Mail-box.



H. D. GRAVES.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 10. 1913.

1,155,146. Patented Sept. 28, 1915.

m? warns rarnnr orrion.

, HENRY n. GBAvEs, or GRANT PARK, ILLINOIS.

MAIL-BOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I-,I-IE R'Y D. GRAVES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grant Park, Kankakee county, in the State of Illinois,have invented a newand useful lVIaiLBox, of which the following is a specification. I r a This invention relates to an improved mail box. I I

An object of the invention is to provide a device of this. nature having efficient and practical details of construction.

One of the features is, the provision of the main box havingapivoted cylindrical box having a fiatsurface and anopening ar ranged therein, and provided with connections to the closure of the main box, whereby when the cover or closure is closed, the opening of the cylindrical box faces downwardly in the main box, and when the cover is thrown open, the opening of the, cylindrical box faces upwardly, so as to permit of the insertion of mail matter, subsequently to which the cover is closed, which returns the cylindrical box, so as to discharge the mail matter therefrom through the opening into the main box. I

Another feature of the invention is the provision of inclined projections adjacent the opening at the top of the main box, to

prevent an instrumentor the likefrom be ing inserted between the cylindrical box and the wall of the main box in order to fraudulently extract the mail matter.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a receptacle in the cover of the main box, there being spring arms arranged to hold the mail matter in place, that is,

when the mail matter is placed therein, with the requisite coin for the purchase of postage.

In practical fields the details of construction may necessitate alterations, falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combinations of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the improved mail box constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the cover opened andthe cylindrical box adjusted with its elongated opening facing upwardly.

Referring more especially to the draw- Specification of Letters Ea'tent. Patented Sept. 28, 1915. Application filedFebruary 10, 1913. Serial No. 747,541. i i

ings, 1 designates the main or dominant mail box or receptacle, which in cross section slightly tapers upwardly and opening'at, its

upper portion, there being a cover 8 provided with end flanges 9 hinged or pivoted at 10 to the main or dominant receptacle. In Fig.1 this cover 8 is provided with a receptacle 4, for the reception of mail matter, and coin, such coin being for the purchase of the requisite postage for the mailmatter, which is placed 1 in, said receptacle 4. Fig. 2 the receptacle 4, or rather the under surface thereof is shown, and in this casethe springs S securedat S to the cover engage the bottom of said receptacle 4c, and under the springs mail matter may be inserted, while. the coinmay be inserted through one open end of the receptacle 4. In Fig. 1, however, the receptacle receives both the mailmattcr and the coin, and the springs S (but which are not shown) are designed to be fastened in the receptacle 4, the springs S mail matter in said being used to clamp the receptacle. A V r V Arranged in the upper portion of the main or dominant mail receptacle is a cylinder 2 having an opening 3 of elongated shape, and a fiat portion 3 This cylinder is hollow and constitutes an auxiliary mail matter receiving receptacle, and is provided with pintles 3 which are mounted in bearings of the end portions of the dominant or main receptacle 1, so that the cylinder or receptacle 2 may be revolved. Projecting downwardly from the under face of the cover 8 are lugs 11, to which the links 1" are pivoted. The lower ends of the links 1" are pivoted at 12 eccentrically to the hollow cylinder or receptacle 2, as shown, and when thecover S is raised, through the medium ofsaid links the hollow cylinder or. receptacle '2 is rotated partially and sufficiently to cause the opening 3 to assume a position in registrationwith the upper open end of the dominant or main receptacle 1, so that mail matter may be inserted in the cylinder I 2. The cover 8 may then be closed, and

when closed, the cylinder is returned to its normal position as shown in Fig. 1. It will be observed that the cylinder 2 may be retated in either direction, that is, when the cover 8 is being closed. The revolving of the cylinder when closing the cover depends mainly, on whether the links are moved downwardly on the right of the pintles 3 or upon the left, as will be understood from Fig. 1. The dominant or main receptacle 1 has inwardly extending projections 13 and 14 provided with the inclined portions 15, which prevent an instrument or the like from being inserted straight and vertically betweenthe cylinder 2 and the wall of the receptacle '1," to extract the mail matter fraudulently. the projection 13 acts as a guide or chute surface for the mail matter when inserting it through the opening 3 of the cylinder 2. The inner surface of the front wall of the receptacle 1 has a lip or flange 17,'which also prevents an instrument or the like from being inserted vertically and straight between the cylinder 2 and the wall in order to extract the mail matter.

' Aconv'entional form of door or closure 5 hinged at 18 is provided on one of the end walls of the main receptacle 1. This door 5 may be provided with tlie' usual lock (not shown); By virtue of the door the postman may, gain access to the lower interior of the main receptacle 1 for the purpose of extracting the mail. p

hen closing the cover 8, the upper edge portions of the ends of the receptacle 1 engage between the flanges 9 and the lugs 11.

The flat surface 3 acts as a chute or guide, so that the mail matter will easily slide into the dominant receptacle when the auxiliary receptacle is revolved to a position with the opening 3 facing downwardly.

I The patentee is aware that prior to the present invention mail boxes having vertical partial rotary receptacles and of a general type of construction have been devised, therefore the patentee does not claim such The inclined portion 16 of a combination broadly, but the present in-.

tacle, said flat surface acting as a chute for the mail matter when the auxiliary receptacle is rotated to a position with the opening facing downwardly, a cover hinged to the open end of the dominant receptacle and provided withdownwardly extending lugs, links pivoted to said lugs,- and in turn having eccentrically pivoted connections with the auxiliary receptacle,whereby when the cover is raised the auxiliary receptacle is rotated to bring the opening to a position facing upwardly, projections comprising inclined surfaces on the interior of the dominant receptacle to prevent insertion of an instrument, and a flange projecting from the inner wall of the dominant receptacle adjacentthe lower portion of the auxiliary receptacle to further prevent the insertion of an instrument.

HENRY D. GRAVES.

lVitnesses:

AGNES M. BERG, J. WVILL BELSHAW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 6; 

